LAST BIT OF SUMMER DINING

With summer in Chicago starting to wind down I’m thinking about all the places I want to eat outdoors one last time before calling alfresco dining quits for 2010. Before I dive into a few of my favorite places let me assure you that I don’t take dining outdoors lightly. It’s one of my favorite warm weather activities and I mourn the loss of sipping a cold beer with sun beating on my back each fall.

Without further ado, here’s a sampling of my favorite eateries in different ‘hoods:

Duchamp –here, is sharing is caring. Duchamp features communal seating and small plates to share making it the perfect place to split a bottle wine and share small plates with friends.

Bull & Bear – you and your work friends have had a long, rough day and the one thing everyone wants is good food and an even better beer – without having to crawl down Michigan Ave. in rush hour to get to it. Bull & Bear is the perfect walking distance from most downtown offices, on Well’s and Hubbard. Serving upscale bar food and a large beverage menu, it’s a crowd pleaser.

404 Wine Bar – just right for a first date, 100th date or low key night with the ladies, 404 Wine Bar will make you feel like you’re in a cozy hideaway from the loud city. An added bonus, there’s a fire place in the patio for cooler summer/fall nights.

Moodys – located in Edgewater, this pub has the absolute cutest cobblestone garden tucked away behind trees and flowers. Moody’s has been voted multiple times to have the best burger and sangria in Chicago, which is enough of a reason to make the trek north. Small warning: the inside is darker and creepier than the deepest cellar you’ve ever been in – which makes this place an outdoor dining only spot for me.

Happy Noshing! Megan Publicist